Side B: Love Negima
Written by Shaun Garin
Love Hina and Mahou Sensei Negima are owned and copyright Ken Akamatsu 2006. References to Bleach are owned by Tite Kubo 2006.
Chapter 12: Cause and Effect
What is this? A dream? No, it's a memory, one I thought I locked away a long time ago. It was snowing, and it was cold in the castle. Yes, now I remember; I grew up in the Highlands of Scotland. It was just me, father... mother passed away. It was the middle ages, maybe older. I forget. Time seems to run through a tessera of change but I never change over the years.
"Father?"
"Ah, Eva, come. Come and look at it." A smiling man gathered the petite little girl into his arms as he pointed at the stars that were arrayed across the night sky. The little girl looked at the sky and the full spread of stars and she exclaimed, "Aaah! How pretty!"
"Isn't it, Eva? Your father has spent his whole life mapping the stars. One by one, I discover more and more. Maybe there are too many to count in my life."
"Father can do it. Father is smart," enunciated Evangeline and the scruffy man smiled and nuzzled her cheek, the whiskers of his beard scratching her face and making her giggle.
"And little girls should get some rest. It is not proper for such a lovely princess to stay up so late," reprimanded the man gently. "Come now. I will sing you a lullaby, all right?"
"Yes father," said Evangeline, but her eyes shone with cheer as he lead her by her hand down into the castle below.
That was the last time I saw father. That night, a group of the townsfolk stormed the castle, thinking that my father was a wizard, a warlock. A person who communicated with the devil to do miracles. They were all fools. The fire consumed the castle, father was slain, as with every servant, down to the last of the serving boys. Only I survived, hidden in a closet, helpless to do anything of the sort but clutch down on my terrified screams. And then, he came.
"Yare Yare, little one you're still alive?"
"Who... who are you? What happened? Why is my father... why?"
The creature knelt down as Evangeline looked at him in fear. Scampering backwards, he caught her face and she flinched at how cold and lifeless his touch was.
"I was called here, by the screams of humanity. Your father had many enemies, enemies who would sacrifice their souls in exchange for true power. I merely helped them along the way."
"What are you?" whispered Evangeline and he smiled, bearing sharp teeth.
"I am what I am child, a vampire through and through."
I came to several hours later. The light burned my very being and I had to hide, being weak and alone. For years, I traveled in darkness, working up the strength to kill the one who caused me to become this way, if only for the sick enjoyment of watching me suffer. I entered a magical school in order to gain access to the power that would allow me to gain my vengeance. And then, I struck him down, in cold blood. To think that the legendary vampire, the one who people referred to as Dracula the undying could be killed by a mere child vampire. But as all old vampires, he was too cocky, too self assured in his victory over my suffering. It was then I earned the title of the Undying Magi.
Years passed. Centuries passed. People I knew grew old and died, the last remnants of my family kept alive through my actions. I moved across land to the land of the Sun, slaying and killing as I did so, keeping myself alive through the power of blood and selflessness. And then, fifteen years ago, he came into my life.
"You must be tired, to fall off a cliff so easily," said the handsome young man as he held onto the branches that jutted from the cliff side. In the other hand, he held Evangeline who stared up at him. Nagi Springfield smiled and said, "A cute girl shouldn't want to die so easily."
"Geez, why are you still following me kid? Go home already," said Nagi to Evangeline but there was no malice in his voice. Only a gentle chiding thus far.
Evangeline said nothing as Chachazero giggled, hanging from her hand. "He is a nice one, mistress," said Chachazero.
Evangeline said nothing as she continued to follow him.
More people came, following the trail of the Thousand Master. Nagi Springfield, so charismatic, so utterly helpful and so utterly selfless. He picked up friends and even more children such as Kagurazaka Asuna. And then he tricked me into that anti-vampire soup. No, he didn't trick me. For some reason, I could never go through with killing him even though his blood would nourish my power for years to come. Why? Why I ask myself. And the answer is clear.
I was in love with the fool.
Over the centuries, I had taken many a lover, guised as a young girl and hidden with spells to promote the appearance of age. But none so much I wanted to bed than Nagi Springfield. He was irresistible, which made many a woman fall for him and claim their child was his. How foolish I was.
And now..
"Eva-chan! Eva-chan! Mou... wake your ass up!"
A sharp kick to the side yielded no response from the girl and Narusegawa Naru grumbled and grabbed a nearby pole and poked Evangeline repeatedly. "Geez, it's already noon. How much longer are you going to stay in bed?"
"Don't wanna get up," came the reply from the pile of sheets. "I have no obligations, no lousy assignments, no nothing."
"Aw c'mon, don't be like that," said Naru as she grabbed the pile and heaved it off the girl, leaving Evangeline curling up more in her bed to try and get some more rest. "It's a gorgeous day out there! Lets go bowling or swimming or something!"
"It's cold," muttered Evangeline. "And it's still too early in the spring for swimming anyhow."
"Geez, get your butt out of bed at least!" exclaimed Naru, kicking the western-style bed hard enough to send it rolling a couple of feet. "Honestly what happened to all of that energy you had last week?"
"I spent it," replied Evangeline but with a weary heave, she pulled herself to a sitting position and brushed tangled blonde hair away from her face. "Fine, if you're willing to pamper me or something, then I guess we can call it even."
"No pampering for you," said Naru as she shoved Evangeline's bath things into her hands. "Get a bath first and come down for lunch."
Evangeline sighed. "Right, right."
Evangeline had to admit, several minutes later after a long soak in the hot springs that she felt better after that long and rather detailed set of memories. Leaning over a rock and folding her arms so that she could rest her head on them, Evangeline sighed and cast a glance across the springs. Steam rose from it in the warm springtime weather, leaving the hot springs area shrouded in a warm hazy fog. "It's peaceful," she said to herself.
Heaving a great sigh, she turned onto her back and leaned so that she could look into the sky. "I wonder... why I was dreaming like that?" Evangeline said to herself.
Suddenly, Evangeline stiffened, the sensation of pure bloodlust washing over her. She suddenly found it incredibly hard to breathe as she stood up, looking around the haze of the springs. Where is it? THERE!
"Lic lac li la lilac," whispered Evangeline and pointed her hand in the direction of the source of the bloodlust as she chanted quickly in Greek. Immediately, the air condensed and chilled as ice exploded up and outwards, forming a spire. The bloodlust quickly abated and Evangeline's eyes narrowed. "Is it dead?"
"Actually, I was thinking it's good to be already dead, don't you agree?" purred a voice next to her ear.
Evangeline gasped and leapt forwards, pivoting around as she began another short spell. But her chanting was cut short as a knee slammed into her stomach, cutting off the wind needed to continue. Landing hard and coughing up blood, Evangeline wiped her mouth and snarled, "Dracula."
"My, my, aren't we the high strung one today?" said the count, slinking out of the mists as they folded away from him like a curtain. The man was tall, not threatening in his looks or stance but his whole body radiated bloodlust. The man himself was dark haired with fine European aristocratic features and he was dressed in a simple black shirt and pants, the collar ruffled a little. "Gralf Vlad the Impaler, otherwise known as Count Dracula in the books. It's nice to see you too, my former murderer."
"How are you still alive?" snapped Evangeline, her hand beginning to glow with violet light. "I was certain I finished you off."
"Oh you did, most assuredly," said the count, casually examining his fingernails like the conversation bored him. "But when I died, someone approached me. Someone who was quite unhappy with the way the world run. Have you ever heard of the demon of the South, Leviathan?"
"I know OF him," returned Evangeline, determined to keep up the banter. It was easier for her to generate the power needed for End of the World. "Mazoku Lord of the South, master of the seas and the air, as his counterpart is Sukuna, Mazoku Lord of the North of Ice and Earth."
"Very good," said Dracula, clapping his hands. "You've done your homework into the work lost into the ages. Actually who approached me was a mid-level mazoku who met an unfortunate end against one Nagi Springfield and you. When I found out that my old pupil was an accessory to his end well..."
"I am not your pupil," snarled Evangeline. "And this conversation, is OVER."
Ice formed in and around the count, and Evangeline snapped her fingers. Immediately, the count exploded into thousands of pieces and she smirked. "Try regenerating from that, bastard."
"Quite a pity really," said the same damnable voice and Evangeline's blood run cold. "A shame, considering that you used such a weak spell against me."
Then she knew nothing but pain as a fist lashed out and propelled her into the changing area where she smashed through several walls and came to a rest, imbedded in the washing machine. The count floated up and seized her face in his hands. Evangeline felt sick as his hand had no warmth to it, like it was devoid of life when he first touched her. "Three days," he said. "And then, I make no promises to spare you and raze this city to the ground."
Then, dropping her face, he stalked out of the room. "WAIT!" cried Evangeline and he stopped. "What do you want, in exchange for not burning the city?"
"Well, perhaps then the side of me that is pure Mazoku can think of something," said Dracula and he seemed to be lost in internal conversation for a minute before his expression split into a wicked smile. "Well then. In exchange, we meet in combat. Just you, and me... and Nagi Springfield."
Evangeline's heart caught in her throat. But... Nagi's DEAD!
"Well then, ta for now," said the count and Evangeline's protests died on the wind as he was no longer there to hear it.
Evangeline had quickly found out that the mazoku part of the count had indeed set up a bubble of non-reality, causing their fight to keep out of the current plane of existence. A cheap trick, but excellent for not causing property damage. Fortunately for her sanity, she hadn't made any sudden renovations to Hinata House in the span of their short fight. On the downside, Chachamaru had been making every attempt to break it with her programs and when Evangeline finally emerged from the bubble of non-reality, the gynoid had looked relived. Until Evangeline told her exactly what happened.
It was a council of not-exactly war for the most part, but the whole of Hinata House sat around the lobby, listening to Evangeline finish her tale.
"And that's that," said Evangeline. "I have to find a way to fake him out since Nagi isn't alive anymore."
"But father IS alive," protested Negi. "He came to me six years ago and gave me this staff."
Evangeline levelled a stare at him. "Even if he WERE still alive, the chance of hunting him down before our time frame is up is almost zero to none. If there was one thing he was good at, it was keeping his ass covered."
"But..." Negi withered under Evangeline's piercing gaze and he shrunk down into his seat.
"So what are you going to do, Eva-chan?" said Kitsune.
"I'm going to face him in combat. I'm certain Chachamaru covered in an illusion will be good enough," said Evangeline.
"Sounds good, I'll help!" exclaimed Su but Evangeline shook her head.
"No offence Su, but your technology or artefact isn't enough. No, this is my fight and I won't let him kill anything else."
"Is this guy really that bad?" asked Naru.
"Worse. He's now a Mazoku, the highest in the demonic hierarchy." Bending over, Evangeline drew several diagrams and held them up. "There are several levels of demons. Demons, the lowest level and easily summonable from your basic to high-level mage."
The image showed a group of mean looking rabbits sitting on a log as Evangeline pointed to the second image of meaner buff rabbits. "These are the Lesser Mazoku, otherwise known as Mid-levels. The one we're facing is a Mid-level Mazoku which means that normal mages can barely scratch them. To even seal one away is dangerous in itself. Then there's the Mazoku Ranks themselves, much stronger demons. To put it simply they're the lieutenants of the Mazoku Race. And then there's the four Mazoku Lords and the governing Lord himself. So did you get all that?" said Evangeline, flipping the three sets of diagrams with a finger over and over.
"... it would have been easier to read without the crappy illustrations," said Kamo-kun and was immediately tossed into a wall for his trouble.
"And you have three days to come up with some scheme to make the illusion as good as possible," said Motoko. "Is that possible in high-level combat?"
"I will have to maintain power for as long as possible. But when it fails, I'll need as much help as I can putting him down, short of sealing him away." Evangeline sighed and said, "If any one of you wish to survive this if I fail, come with me."
Soon enough, they gathered in Evangeline's room with several changes of clothes and enough food to feed an army or a Su in several days. "I warn you now, you will age in here and it is set for twenty four hour increments," said Evangeline as she indicated her resort. "But it's the best chance of learning enough combat skills to survive if the bastard welches on our deal."
"Cool it's like the room of space and time," chirped Sarah happily and Evangeline gave her a look.
"Everyone ready then?" said Evangeline and there was a round of nods. Evangeline opened the gate to her resort and in a flash of light, the entire Hinata Household vanished.
"Hello?" called out Kotarou as he stuck his head into Hinata House. "Anyone home?"
Scowling to himself, he stepped inside and started to poke his head into the various rooms, calling out to people who would normally be in there. After combing one and a half floors, Kotarou rubbed his head and exclaimed, "Man, where IS everyone?"
Sniffing the air, Kotarou began to follow a scent and he wandered around the lower floor until he was sniffing around the courtyard in the back. "Someone's cooking something," he said to himself as he finally pinpointed the source. "In... that run down Annex?"
Kotarou approached the Annex and scowled to himself as he saw the Annex was sealed with a spiritual rope. "Someone's done a good job here," he said, fingering the wards. "But someone's inside. Far be it from me to not investigate."
Instead of going through the front door, Kotarou leapt to the nearest balcony and then up one more floor before he found a window he could go through. Sliding the window closed, he rubbed his hands for a moment before chanting a syllable and holding up his finger. Light blossomed from the tip and he panned it around the building. "Che, it's pretty run down inside too."
Following his nose down stairs and rickety landings, Kotarou was painfully aware that each step yielded an ominous creaking noise and not once did he stop to make certain that whoever was cooking downstairs hadn't run away for some odd reason. Although thought Kotarou, whoever LIVED in here was probably cracked anyhow.
Making his way to the first floor, he rounded the corner, sniffed the air and let his nose lead him to a kitchen. The kitchen was sparse but with surprisingly well maintained hot and cold running water, a refrigerator to the side and a pot was bubbling on a stove. The only jarring note was that the stove itself was wood burning, something Kotarou was certain should have been replaced soon.
The kitchen itself caught most of the suns rays, bathing it in a warm light and not at all unfriendly and it was clean, devoid of the layer of dust that Kotarou found in many rooms. Although, Kotarou had also noticed several rooms that were free of the inches of dust from years of unkempt care for the rundown building.
"Someone's living in here," surmised Kotarou and then he felt a presence behind him. Whirling in a fighting stance, a handsome black haired young man stood there, looking quizzical as he held in his hands an armful of wood for the stove.
"Oh, visitors," he said cheerfully, his voice low and musical. "It is not often I encounter people who have found me. Please, have a seat. Lunch will be ready shortly."
"I'm not really here for lunch," said Kotarou but his stomach growled.
The young man laughed and he added, "Well then, indulge me then I suppose."
Soon enough, Kotarou was sitting down across from the young man who had prepared a simple meal of meat and vegetable stew in the western tradition, and hot steaming buns that came from the oven below the cooking range. The food smelled so good, Kotarou exclaimed "Ikadakimasu!" and dug in heartily. The young man smiled and tasted his food. "It's been a while since I had guests," said the man. "My name's Imma Albrieo. And you are?"
"Inugami," said Kotarou through a mouthful of stew and bread. "Inugami Kotarou."
"Ah, well Kotarou-kun, may I call you that?" Kotarou nodded and Albrieo continued. "How did you find me?"
"Was easy," said Kotarou, tapping his nose. "I smelled your food all the way from the dorm."
"Oh ho?" chuckled Albrieo. "Then I suppose my food is good after all. It's good then; Nagi said I always needed to improve since our meals were usually rat-like things that we found in the deserts of Niobe."
"Nagi?" repeated Kotarou, stuffing his face with stew. "Do you mean Nagi Springfield, the Thousand Master?"
"Indeed," said Albrieo, his eyes shining. "And you are Eastern Magi by the looks of it. Inugami Wolf Oni Tribe?"
Kotarou dropped his spoon into the bowl and stood up in shock. "How did you know?!" he exclaimed.
Albrieo smiled pleasantly, and tapped his nose twice. Feeling a little more cornered, Kotarou sat down and continued his meal. After all, it was a basic tenant in the Inugami family that you did not pass up food.
"The reason I asked is because Negi Springfield lives in the dorm, does he not?" said Albrieo, causing Kotarou to cough on his food before swallowing hard.
"You're well informed for a guy who doesn't get out much," said Kotarou after sucking down a cup of water. "What do you know about me and him anyhow?"
"I was curious really, wondering why an Inugami, a hardliner supporter of the East-West Magi separationist groups was friends with a Springfield, the very son of the infamous Thousand Master." said Albrieo calmly.
"Well, feh, he doesn't KNOW I'm East anyhow," said Kotarou, but there was no bile behind the words.
"Really? Then why do you not tell him?"
"Tell him? You can't be serious, Chigusa-neechan wants me to keep an eye on the dorm," said Kotarou. "And a man doesn't back down on his word."
"Negi is only ten, the same age as you. He has no real friends save for Sarah who can relate to him being a semi-orphan herself. How is it that you can actually spend time with him without getting to know the REAL Negi?"
"I... er..." Kotarou was for a loss of words as he stared into his dish, suddenly not feeling hungry all of a sudden. The empty sensation in his stomach for food had replaced itself with a hollow pit, something that ached when he thought of betraying Negi one day to Chigusa and the East-based separatists. "I hate the hateful Western Magi. That's why I fight."
Kotarou-kun, thank you!
"It doesn't sound like you have much conviction over it," mused Albrieo calmly. "You've become friends, despite having different missions. You've been able to see who Negi really is; not the son of the Thousand Master but his own person."
"... you're right," said Kotarou finally after sitting at the table in silence, mulling over Albrieo's words. "Negi is the son of the Thousand Master, but he is also just a kid, like me. We've spent time together, being friends. I guess... I don't hate Western Magi as much as I thought."
Albrieo smiled as he got up and retrieved Kotarou's bowl and plate, much to the Inugami's protests but came back with two slices of decadent chocolate mud pie, each one of them almost as tall as Kotarou's own head. Kotarou's eyes were wide as Albrieo set them down and then placed a knife and fork on each plate. "It's times like this, that Tara always said that you need chocolate to support a decision."
Ruffling Kotarou's hair, Albrieo and Kotarou began on their desserts. And slowly, each one of them opened up a little more.
"Need to pee," muttered Negi as he sat up in his makeshift bed and stumbled towards the bathrooms. As he returned from it, he paused at the sight of Evangeline practicing in the fighting area. The girl was moving through the motions of casting a spell.
"Master?" said Negi, making Evangeline look up. There were tired circles under her eyes and he added, "You should get to bed. It's not good to exhaust yourself."
"I'm fine," said Evangeline, snippily. "I just need to brush up on my skills, that's all."
"Everyone is worried," said Negi as Evangeline proceeded to cast the Saggita Magica-Axe of Lightning combo. "And we still want to help." The last part of the statement caused the Axe to misfire, crashing into the ground about three meters away from the actual tin can she was using as a target. The can rolled over, mocking her.
"Negi," said Evangeline, her voice low and dangerous. "Never think of helping me. I'm training you not to fight but to survive."
"But... Evangeline-san is always saying that," said Negi.
"BUT I MEAN IT THIS TIME!" cried Evangeline angrily and Negi was surprised to see tears falling from her eyes. "I don't want to risk losing you. Losing anyone for that matter."
Whirling back around so that Negi couldn't see her cry, Evangeline sniffed. The sound of footsteps could be heard and Negi laid his hand on her shoulder. She slapped it away but it returned and then another wrapped around her shoulders as Negi laid into her back. "It's okay, Master," he said soothingly. "We're not going to die. We're going to live."
"How... how do you know you can do it?" said Evangeline softly, not turning to face the young boy. "How can you fight, knowing this guy can wipe half the human race out without breaking a sweat?"
"I don't know," replied Negi. "But it's like counting stars. One by one I find new ones. Each one of them are possibilities. Maybe there's too many possibilities but there's always one I can follow."
Your father has spent his whole life mapping the stars. One by one, I discover more and more. Maybe there are too many to count in my life.
Evangeline, taken back by Negi's words that echoed in tandem with her own fathers, turned around and stared into his eyes. The same eyes, so full of life and determination.
"Master, are you okay?" asked Negi. "You're flushed."
Evangeline jumped. Face burning, she pushed him back and said, "Get some rest. Training resumes in the morning. And don't worry, I'll rest too."
Negi heaved a great sigh of relief and smiled brightly. "Thank goodness. Well, goodnight, Master." With that, he returned to bed as Evangeline watched him leave.
"Kukuku," giggled Chachazero who had watched the pair under the simulated stars. "You LIKE him, don't you Mistress?"
"Shut up," retorted Evangeline as she tried to shake the memory of how brilliant Negi's eyes were and how Nagi's was the same.
Kotarou ducked and wove around Albrieo's deceptively weak strikes as they pair sparred back and forth on the lawn in front of the Annex. When Kotarou had asked for training, he couldn't have found a better opponent.
Imma Albrieo was a deceptively strong and complex person, archiving thousands of books in the Annex alone and many more in the hidden libraries deep within Hinata House since the end of the East-West War. After the war, some of the more infamous group members of Nagi Springfield's team had split up and Albrieo had followed Nagi to Hinata House where Nagi had introduced him to Granny Hinata, a wizened old lady of at least seventy but still spry to climb mountains and dive into the deepest oceans.
Granny Hinata was immediately sold on the idea of Albrieo living in the Annex. Even though it was dangerous for couples, he could easily live there and slowly work on the dangerous magic that was caught in a snare between Water and Wood mana. Such a union usually resulted in the binding of two people who stayed under the Annex's roof since the old days but Albrieo was one man and had been slowly unravelling the complex tangle of mana that situated itself on the ground of the Annex. Since then, Nagi had journeyed to Mahora Academy with Evangeline in tow; the last of their group before he vanished a year later. He was said to have appeared briefly during the scuffle that burnt down much of Pararakelse's lush tropical flora around the ruins of the Turtle Society but other than that, he was out of the pages of history.
Kotarou held up a hand, panting hard as he trotted over to the bench and popped the top on his water bottle. Taking a swig, he gasped out, "Where did you learn all of this?"
"Aaaah," said the man, holding up a finger in front of his face. Albrieo had insisted on wearing a brown hooded cloak, "Just in case" he had said since there were still people out there who would gleefully get a piece of him if they could. He also asked to be called Colonel Sanders which sort of surprised Kotarou more out of the fact that Albrieo obviously had a thing for Western-style cooked chicken. "That, is a secret."
Kotarou groaned, the seventeenth time in the day. "That line is so overused," he grumbled.
"If you must know, I do more than archive objects and life stories, "said Albrieo, pulling out a card that Kotarou recognized as a Ministra Magi pactio card. "Adeat," he whispered and a thousand books spiralled out of it. Catching a handful of bookmarks, he reached for a book and slashed it through the pages of the book he closed around it. There was a muffled boom and a pillar of muted light before a little girl stood there in front of him.
Kotarou spat out his water in shock as the girl, short, red headed and wearing the cloak of a Wales Magical Student said, "You see, my Artefact allows me certain skills," said the girl and then in another swirl of light and smoke, Konoe Eishun stood there; young, dressed in a turtle neck and black slacks and he carried a katana that was planted into the ground. "Learning the life stories of people and carrying them with me is part of its power."
Another burst of light swirled and then stood a grey haired man, unshaven and handsome, dressed in a well worn brown suit. "You see, as an archivist, I can recreate the forms of people all over the world. I can turn into someone stronger or..."
Wind swirled and light pillared into the sky as Urashima Haruka took a drag of her cigarette, "I can become someone weaker of course, but it's usually not necessary to do that. Haruka-chan is usually too cute for me to become anyhow."
"Oh really?" chimed in a voice next to them and the faux Haruka made an "ERK!" sound just before she exclaimed "BLAUGH!" and was pitched across the ground as the real Haruka smashed him good. "Let that be a lesson to you Al; Haruka-chan is NOT how you address me."
"Ouch, ouch, ouch," grimaced the faux Haruka and light swirled to reveal Albrieo sitting up against the cliff side, holding a big red mark on his face. "You still hit pretty good, don't you Haruka-chan?"
As Haruka turned away from Albrieo who was convulsing on the ground due to Haruka grabbing his legs and driving her foot into his nuts several times, she turned towards Kotarou who sweated nervously and took a drag of her cigarette. "Kotarou, where's the others?" she asked curiously.
"Er... I don't know?" whimpered Kotarou.
Sighing, Haruka turned to Albrieo who had finished writhing on the ground in pain and repeated the question. Albrieo simply looked at her cluelessly before she made a grasping motion and twisted her clawed fingers. "THEY WENT INTO EVA-CHAN'S RESORT MA'AM!" cried Albrieo, doing a credible military impression as he snapped to full standing attention and performing a crisp salute.
"I'm guessing this is in part to that Halfa showing up," said Haruka and Albrieo nodded and exclaimed, "Yes ma'am!" Sighing heavily, she turned towards Kotarou and said, "Kiddo, you're good with talismans?"
"Not too much," said Kotarou, now in the same attention stance as Albrieo for fear of losing the will to procreate. "Chigusa-neechan was better. But I know some stuff like the spell to make a bubble of non-reality."
"That's good then," said Haruka. "Start making enough wards to encase the area with a radius of about a hundred meters. If I know the way a Halfa fights, they'll try to cause as much property damage as possible. Well what are you waiting for you two! Go to the store and buy some paper and ink! Chop, chop!"
"YES MA'AM!" chorused the pair and they dashed for the main courtyard.
"God, she's scary," whimpered Kotarou as they neared the stairs.
"Haruka-chan's always been able to scare me, that's for sure," admitted Albrieo. He was then clocked by a flying stone and went tumbling down the stairs. Kotarou looked back, his eyes went big and round and he fled down the stairs at the sight of Haruka tossing a very large stone up and down in her hand.
"I have no more to teach you all," said Evangeline as she paced up and down the line like a drill sergeant. The girl looked composed but inside she was still filled with turmoil. Chachamaru could feel it, being intimately linked with Evangeline. "I... I want all of you to run if the battle goes badly," said Evangeline. Holding up a hand to forestall the torrent of angry exclamations, she added, "He's an upper-tier Mazoku, not just one of your run of the mill demons that Kagurazaka would be able to smack into the next world without a thought. If it goes sour, I want you all to promise me to run. Is that understood?"
The others looked at each other before Negi said, "Yes, Master."
"Good." Evangeline heaved a sigh and added, "For your safety, any of you who do not have pactio artefacts, I want you to make one with me. It will keep you alive for the most part and lend instinctive use of the artefact. Each one of them is unique to the user and reflects your inner determination and drive. There is no way to predict what may happen. Kamo, are you done?"
"Yes neesan," said Kamo as he finished making the pactio circle. His voice was subdued as the life had seemingly drained from it as well. "It's ready."
"Good," said Evangeline, stepping into the circle. "Naru first."
Naru walked over and she faced Evangeline. Evangeline looked up at the taller girl, scowled and used a bit of her magic to become the nineteen year old she was usually at Hinata House. "Just a quick peck," said Evangeline.
"R-Right," said Naru, looking a bit flushed as she leaned in and their lips made hesitant contact. Violet light flared and a card floated down where it was caught by Naru.
The picture of Naru was her in her favourite sleeveless turtleneck, skirt and boots. One hand held a large book that read "Encyclopedius" and the other hand was pulling off her glasses as Naru faced outwards from the card.
Kitsune, stepping up to bat had no hesitation as she captured Evangeline's lips. The other girl made an "MMPH!" sound for a moment before Kitsune let go with an audible pop. "KITSUNE!" cried Evangeline, mortified at being slipped the tongue. Kitsune stuck her tongue out at her and then plucked her card out of the air. She was dressed in a set of leather pants and a tank top in the image but there was an addition of two fox tails popping out of her backside and fox ears held fast onto her head. It seemed that Kitsune was not just a nickname but was quickly becoming a reality.
Motoko came next, looking very embarrassed about kissing Evangeline but she pecked her lips quickly, long enough for the magical transfer to complete itself. The image on it was different than Setsuna's in style, more to the point that Motoko's hair was tied back in a set of twinned ponytails and she sported a bit more cute style than usual; a flared skirt that was also part shorts, boiled leather armour around her front and back, a mix of fishnet and leather wrapped around her forearms and calves with sandaled feet and around her forehead was a imageless metal plate on a headband. Her sword Shishou was slung over her shoulders as it had seemingly grown too long for her to carry.
Finally, Negi's turn was there as Su, Shinobu and Sarah had been denied the chance to form a second pactio by Evangeline, stating that even though the double pactio worked once, it may not work and could kill them. Negi stood in front of her as she returned to her younger form. "Well, I haven't got all day," snapped Evangeline and Negi swallowed.
"Right," said Negi. He leaned in slowly, his eyes scrunched up and closed. Sighing, Evangeline grabbed his face and before Negi could react, she crashed her lips against his in a fierce kiss.
Negi's arms waved in shock as she released him and a card floated down. Evangeline snagged it and handed it to Negi. "Here," she said. "And wipe that dumb look off your face."
"T-Tongue," he squeaked, face burning.
Not deeming to continue that train of thought, Evangeline turned to the rest and said, "Everyone ready?"
The chorus of nodding answered for her and Evangeline and the others vanished from the resort.
"There's the last of them," said Kotarou as he finished inking out the last charm and affixed it to the wall surrounding Hinata House. "Everything all right on the other side, Albrieo-san?"
"Yes they are," said Albrieo, casting a glance over at Haruka who simply nodded at them. The older woman kept glancing up at Hinata House as if she was waiting for them to arrive. Albrieo had surmised that Evangeline had her resort and had been training the others there for the last day or so. Haruka however had them working for the last three hours making a very strong barrier that would enfold Hinata House into a never-ending place. Mostly to keep the property damage down than anything else since the people who lived around Hinata House were immune to the pack of loons that lived there.
"We're back," said Evangeline from behind Haruka, although her tone said she wasn't happy to be back at all. "What's going on here?"
"Well," said Haruka, gesturing towards Albrieo who had his back turned to the pair as with Kotarou, "Al's finally shown his face."
"Eh?" said Evangeline, her expression adopting something one would see on Ku Fei's naturally clueless look as Albrieo turned around and raised a hand in greeting.
"Yo," he said.
Evangeline exploded into a frenzy as she demanded, "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?!" while yanking on his face and hair and leaping on top of his shoulders, pulling at his ears like a little child. "HARUKA! Did you know he was here?"
"Yep," said Haruka, taking a drag of her cigarette. "I'm surprised you didn't even ASK me or sense his presence."
"I… but… grr…" enunciated Evangeline as she dug her knee into Albrieo's head in frustration.
"Maa, Eva-chan are you happy to see me or something?" grinned Albrieo as she twisted his ears painfully. "Or should I rather get out that school swimsuit and neko-mimi cosplay outfit I saved for you?"
"You perverted letch," grumbled Evangeline as she grabbed his nose and yanked upwards.
Kotarou marvelled to himself how the famous Dark Evangel could act so immature around the right people and sighed. "You know, that attack is due in three days," he said. "What's going to happen with it anyhow?"
"We need to get a mock up of Nagi working," said Evangeline as she put Albrieo into a headlock. The older man looked like he was enjoying it albeit his pained expression. "Maybe I can bug Satomi to make me a Chachamaru Mark II or something."
"I guess," said Kotarou, rubbing his head. "But seriously, no one fights like a western mage around here much anyhow."
"Feh," said Evangeline, snorting. "You're one to talk Inugami, being the son of shikigami."
As Kotarou gaped for a moment, Evangeline snorted again and said, "Really kiddo, you didn't think I knew? It's hard NOT to figure it out. I'm surprised Negi hasn't."
"Meh, I guess," said Kotarou. "So what are you going to do about emulating the Thousand Master?"
"I have a solution," said Albrieo as he suffered under Evangeline's attacks while perched on his person. "I can use my Artefact."
There was a long prolonged silence before Evangeline stated, "I hate you for making my life so much more difficult."
"Something on your mind, Naru?" asked Kitsune, noting that Naru was holding the telephone in her hands. The other was resting on the rotary-style dial but she hadn't put a number in. Kitsune could hear the phone beeping insistently, demanding a number to be put into the system. "Trying to call someone?"
"Yeah," said Naru, hanging up the phone at last. "I wanted to call mom and dad but they're not home. I also tried Mei but she's off at class."
"This has you really shook up, huh?" said Kistsune and the other girl nodded. "I don't blame you. It's got me shook up too."
"When I first came here, I never knew that some day I could be possibly facing off something that would want to kill us. Not out of malice or spite or revenge, just kill us without remorse." Naru heaved a tremendous sigh and her shoulders shook as she begun to cry. "Kitsune... I'm scared."
"We all are," said Kitsune, wrapping her arms around the other girl. A tear splashed against Naru's cheek and she looked over her shoulder at Kitsune, the older girl's eyes watering as well. "God I'm so frightened too. But we have to think positive. This is Hinata House. We can make dreams come true, right?"
Naru nodded and she wiped her eyes. "R-right."
Three days tense days passed by. The girls had moved their worldly possessions to the Annex since it would be outside of the warded area with the feeling that they wanted to see their things again, just to assure themselves that they would be alive when the outcome was decided.
Albrieo stood to the side, Nagi Springfield's life story already in his hands. To fully transform into someone and utilize all of their powers, especially one stronger than he was would limit his time to ten minutes. After which, the rest was left up to chance if the fight passed the ten minute mark.
Evangeline stood in the middle of the battleground, Chachamaru standing next to her and the girls standing at the perimeter where the spell was the weakest. The girl looked placid, but her eyes were a little red from staying up all night. Negi stood at the doors of the Hinata House, Kamo sitting on his shoulder. He had been told that his father would be joining them through the power of Albrieo's artefact and he too had a sleepless night thinking about the possibilities.
Then he appeared in a rush of dark energy and hovered overhead, chuckling. "Well, well, you come at least prepared than before. Come child, meet your doom against us. I seek vengeance and I am here to take it."
Magical power erupted from where Albrieo once stood and in his place, a flutter of doves appeared. Negi's breath caught in his throat as the hood fell down and the man held out a hand as a dove alighted on it. "Maa, all of these doves," he said, and Nagi Springfield smirked. "I didn't expect that I'd be let out for this."
"Nagi Springfield," said Dracula and his tone pitched deeper into a low vibration. "Remember I? It is I, is it not? You killed me and now, it is time to pay."
Nagi cocked his head to the side and said, "Are you certain I did? I don't remember."
"Idiot," hissed Evangeline, "ask questions later; we're running out of time!"
"I guess you're right," said Nagi and then he turned to Negi who stood at the entrance of the house, his staff clutched in his hands. The young boy gazed at his father and his father caught the meaning.
I have so many questions for you, but it will have to wait. Please, hurry.
Nagi smiled and then, he exploded into action as Chachamaru surged forth as with Evangeline.
"L" exclaimed Dracula in a decidedly foreign tongue as raw darkness crackled and surged forth, destroying the ground where they stood. Nagi and Chachamaru leapt it and Evangeline took to the air, still chanting.
Nagi's first hit made contact and the pair wrestled for domination, fist to fist as he shot into his favourite move; Saggita Magica. The blast pushed the opponent away as Chachamaru delivered a vicious roundhouse into his head that knocked it clean around. Dracula laughed and he fired a beam of energy that blasted Chachamaru into the building.
"Chachamaru-san!" cried Negi as he mounted his wand, but the gynoid was already out of the hole and leapt into the fray once more.
"Pale Moon," intoned Evangeline and a beam of pale light struck at the ground below the opponent. Dracula grimaced and leapt away just as soon as a beam raw moonlight ripped through the ground and coursed into the air for a good minute.
"Hahahaha," laughed Dracula and he chanted something short in that foreign tongue once more. "Ii!"
Evangeline cursed and flew away as a barrage of meteors struck the ground and Dracula cursed as he blocked a double shot from Nagi and Chachamaru. "Not bad, not bad little girl," he grinned. "And Thousand Master, you have improved."
"Why thank you," said Nagi, his tone light but the expression humourless as he caught one of Dracula's powerful punches and twisted inwards along the strike. "Axe of Lightning!"
Dracula cried out and he crashed to the ground as Chachamaru struck him on the head with a spin kick. Evangeline finished her incantation, this time in the foreign tongue that Dracula was using and she intoned "Sin Harvest".
Immediately, the monster was stripped of his energy and mana and he cried out in pain. "What are you doing, wretched woman?" he snarled.
"I had this spell for a while," said Evangeline, her breath coming short from the rapid-fire spellcasting. "Sin Harvest is a spell that rips the life and mana from someone. Granted it will recharge in time but this is enough for our purposes."
Dracula smirked and then, shakily he got up as his body glowed with inky darkness. "You think so?" he said, his voice shaking with two different trebles. "Well then, let us see how much power you can rip from me!"
The beam of light that was cutting off Dracula's power suddenly turned pitch black and Evangeline shrieked as she was blown away from the power.
"Mistress!" cried Chachamaru as Nagi turned to face the opponent who was no longer there. He barely caught the strike to the neck and was tossed out of the protective barrier and came soaring through the other side. Dracula was ready for any counter attack and a massive arm smashed the man into the ground.
"This is all that there leads to be," Dracula smirked. "What is the matter, Dark Evangel? Coming to face your worst fears a little too much for you?"
"Evangeline... Master, you shouldn't move," said Negi as he had rushed to help Evangeline when she was thrown back by the energy burst. "Chachamaru, tell her she can't fight!"
"I'm fine you two," said Evangeline and she fell back, coughing up blood. "Really, I am."
"Mistress you are not fine," intoned Chachamaru quickly as she snuck a peek at Nagi being played like a pinball. "Your ribs are bruised, your muscles are all but given out and your life force has been shattered. It will take weeks for you to heal."
"We don't have weeks," said Evangeline but Negi pushed her down into Chachamaru's lap. "Boya?"
"Stay here," said Negi, his expression grim. "I'm going to help dad."
Without heeding Evangeline's protests, the boy rushed into battle and he gripped his staff. "Hey!" he cried and Dracula looked up at him. "Let my father GO!"
Magic whipped about and it crackled as he aimed. "Axe of Lightning!"
Dracula smirked and grabbed Nagi, positioning him into the path of the bolt. Negi's breath caught in his throat and he diverted it. The thunderbolt crashed down next to Dracula and then, the man was behind Negi.
"Foolish brat," smirked Dracula and his hands came down in a killing strike.
CLANG!
Dracula skidded backwards, dropping Nagi who coughed and got to his feet as Shinobu stood there, her giant frying pan in her hands. "I won't let you hurt Negi-kun!" she exclaimed.
"Neechan?!" exclaimed Kamo and Negi blinked, wondering where he had gone from Negi-san to Negi-kun.
"A little girl, is it?" smirked Dracula and once more he took off, faster than the eye. But then another blur met him and there was a cry of "Evil Cutting Blade, Second Form!"
The burst of raw chi shot through Shinobu and Dracula took it head on. The vampire fused with a mazoku cried out, holding his face and scrabbling at his eyes. "Bitch!" he cried out and Motoko smirked, her sword held out in a ready position.
"You forget, this is our home too," said Motoko. "I will not have evil reside here for as long as I live!"
"You..." Dracula was suddenly cut off as a sword was thrust through his chest and a resounding BOOM was heard. The mazoku went skidding along the ground as Su lowered her gun and Sarah jerked her hand. Her Artefact vanished and reappeared in her hands and Dracula bled darkness.
"We're just all coming out of the woodwork, aren't we?" remarked Sarah with a grin and Kotarou cracked his knuckles in agreement.
"Negi, let's finish this guy off," said Kotarou and Negi nodded.
"Cantus Bellax," intoned Negi and his power skyrocketed. The pair rushed Dracula and the man was forced to parry their shots, returning a couple. Blocking Kotarou's strike by grabbing his wrist, Negi was under the blow with a cry of "Saggita Magica, 199 arrows of light!"
The light arrows drilled him into the chest and Dracula flew backwards as Kotarou was above him, sweeping his hand downwards. "INUGAMI!"
Dozens of dark dogs erupted from his hand and smashed into the opponent, making it cry out even more. Dracula vanished and reappeared, holding his chest that was bleeding darkness. "You miserable little fools," he grimaced and then raised a hand. "This is the end for all of you! Descend..."
A crossbow bolt smashed into his hand and Dracula clutched at his hand as a smirking man down below lowered it. "It can't be," he whispered, not noticing Naru and Kitsune, the latter concentrating hard and her ears twitching rapidly.
"Good going," murmured Evangeline and then she intoned, "Activate contract, Negi Springfield for 30 seconds."
Negi suddenly felt like he was on fire as Evangeline's magic coursed through his system. While not a spectacular light show, it was strong and surprisingly warm. The momentary pause as Dracula prepared a spell to kill the unknown man was enough that Nagi grabbed his son and then said, "Fly." An incredible pitch hurled the boy towards the opponent and Dracula noticed him a little too late.
"Adeat," whispered Negi and then he landed a moment later. In his hand he bore a glittering claymore blade with a spiralling hilt that spun around his arm like fire, and in the other, he held half of his staff that was now a cool pale pearl-blue color and fitted as a sheath.
"Im...possible," coughed Dracula as he begun to slide apart. "How... did... we...?"
The thought was finished as Negi stood up and then, he dissolved into sparkling lights. "It's... over?"
"Yes, it's over," said Nagi, getting up and smiling at Negi. Walking over, he rubbed his hand in his hair and said, "I'm sorry I didn't have much time together with you. You've grown so much. When I recorded this, you weren't even born yet."
"Father," whispered Negi and Nagi chuckled.
"Grow up strong, okay kiddo? And take care of Eva-chan for me. Lord knows she needs some companionship." Nagi looked over at Evangeline who watched them and he said, "Someday soon, Eva-chan. Sometime later."
In a sparkling light, Nagi vanished and in his place was Albrieo who ruffled Negi's hair once last time.
The party at Hinata House was like no other that night, going late into the early part of the morning. The early morning dawn found Evangeline wrapped in her fluffy bathrobe and wincing as she stretched a muscle. "Damn, this hurts," she grimaced.
"Master? Are you up here?" asked Negi and the girl looked over. "I was worried, thought you had gone somewhere in your condition."
"I'm fine, don't worry about me," said Evangeline, turning away. "I'm a vampire, I can heal pretty easily. But mazoku-inflicted wounds are pretty hard to heal from so I'll be a lame duck for a while."
Negi nodded and he settled down next to the girl. A cool wind washed over the pair, a prelude to the dawn and he said, "Master... were you really worried about all of us?"
"Hmm?"
"I mean, you say you're evil, but you don't act it." Negi smiled and added, "If anything you act more like a normal girl all the time!"
If Evangeline had been drinking something, she would have spat it out in shock. "I DO NOT!"
"Hahahaha," chuckled Negi.
The pair fell into comfortable silence for a few minutes and then, Evangeline said, "Are you dwelling on what happened?"
"Sort of," said Negi.
"It's not your fault, boya, if that's what you're thinking. He came for me and your dad just happened to off the mazoku." Evangeline looked at him and said, "Kiddo, you're pretty special you know."
"Why do you say that?" asked Negi, curious.
"How many people have two artefacts?" smirked Evangeline, poking his nose. "There's only exceptional magi who have it. Sarah has two which says a lot."
"Huh, fancy that," said Negi. "Well I guess, there's no point worry about it, right, Master?"
Negi's smile was infectious and Evangeline found herself smiling alongside him. "Right. I guess you're right, boya. Nothing to worry about at all."
The morning light broke through the haze of the dawn and like magic, the mists surrounding Hinata City was brushed away like a cosmic hand had deemed to clean the world away, revealing the splendour of the morning. "Pretty," said Negi and Evangeline blushed, not knowing if he referred to her or the dawn.
His sword and sheath. No doubt about it; they're the Sun and the Moon. Father, are you really looking out for me?
Downstairs, Haruka looked up at the pair and smiled, tucking away the book that was embossed with the words "McDowell Family Tree". On the front was a crest with a claymore and a sheath crossed before a shield and beneath it read in Latin "To Protect Our Family, We Honour You Above All."
"I guess things come full circle, don't they?" remarked Albrieo as he tended to his wounds.
"I suppose they do," nodded Haruka. Then, she noticed a glow across town. "Huh, isn't that Kotarou's apartment?"
"I think so," remarked Albrieo. "I think it's also on fire."
"And that's the story Neechans," said Kotarou, looking embarrassed. "I really need a place to stay and I just found out that Chigusa-neechan also gave up her crusade. Please?"
"I suppose it works out," smirked Evangeline. "But you and the boya are working for your keep, got it?"
"Eeeh?" exclaimed Negi. "But I'm the manager!"
"Aniki, don't fight with them, it'll only cause more pain later on," moaned Kamo.
"Geez, how can this get worse?" remarked Kotarou, rubbing his head.
"Um, excuse me?" The entire household looked at the figure in the door. A stuffed lion thing stood in the doorway, a stick with a small handkerchief tied around the end as sort of a travel pack. "Can I get a room?"
Evangeline felt the dark energy from the stuffed animal, or rather the remains of it. She goggled at the lion thing and exclaimed, "Dracula?!"
Immediately the girls were on edge as the lion thing waved it's arms frantically. "No, no, no! That idiot is dead! I'm Kon, the mazoku who was with him. You kids ruined me and now I have nowhere else to go."
"Say what?" said Naru.
"It's true," said Kon, his head drooping. "If I go back, I'll be mocked for eternity. PLEASE LET ME STAY, I BEG OF YOU!"
"Whoo boy," remarked Kitsune. "This is going to be one odd year."